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Tomb of Inherkhau (TT359)

Monument at Deir el-Medina · also called TT359, Inherkha tomb, Inherkhau

TT359 is a small painted burial chamber where Book of the Dead scenes, including the cat of Ra killing the serpent Apep, sit beside family portraits, all captioned in clear hieroglyphs. It belonged to Inherkhau, a foreman under Ramesses III and Ramesses IV (c. 1150 BC).

As foreman, Inherkhau led one of the two gangs that cut and decorated the royal tombs. His tomb has a chapel above and a burial chamber below. Only the burial chamber is well preserved, but its colours are bright and its painters were the same men who worked for the king.

The paintings come from the Book of the Dead, the spells that helped the dead in the afterlife, and from family life. Each figure has a short text naming who it is and what is said. The hand is quick and confident, the work of a painter who knew the spells by heart.

What to see and read

Cat of Ra

A cat with a knife cuts off the head of the serpent Apep beside a tree. The cat is a form of the sun god, guarding the sun against chaos.

Harpist

A blind harpist plays for Inherkhau and his wife, and the words of his song for the dead are written above him.

Family scenes

Inherkhau and his wife sit with their grandchildren, who bring offerings. Each child is named.

Signs to look for

  1. Oar P8ḫrw The oar spells kheru in 'true of voice' after Inherkhau's name.
  2. Sun N5rꜥ The sun disc is Ra, whose cat kills Apep.
  3. Feather H6mꜣꜥt The feather spells maat in 'Place of Truth' in his title.
  4. Bread on an offering mat R4ḥtp The bread on a mat starts the offering formula.

Reading the hieroglyphs here

  • If it is open when you visit, it is usually on the Deir el-Medina ticket. Tombs here open in rotation.
  • The cat scene is small. Take a steady photo and zoom in to read the caption.

Point your camera at a wall Hiero Lens boxes the signs and names them, on your phone; nothing is uploaded. On worn stone, trace a sign over the photo.

Questions

Who was Inherkhau?

A foreman of the workmen who built the royal tombs. He served under Ramesses III and Ramesses IV and lived at Deir el-Medina.

What is the cat in Inherkhau's tomb?

It is the sun god Ra as a cat, killing Apep, the serpent enemy of the sun. The scene comes from the Book of the Dead.

Also at Deir el-Medina

Monument

Tomb of Sennedjem (TT1)

TT1 is a single painted burial chamber full of clear Book of the Dead hieroglyphs on a warm yellow background. It belonged to Sennedjem, a craftsman of the royal tombs under Seti I and Ramesses II.

Where it is

Open in OpenStreetMap · Written from published sources and not yet checked on site by our team: displays and open tombs change.